Systems Thinking in the Writing of Logbooks

Systems thinking helps students see the interrelationship between elements in a system. This study presents how systems thinking was introduced to undergraduate students in information and communication technology in a logbook writing workshop over 3 lessons taught via zoom. The findings show that the students’ logbook entries showed improvement in lesson 3 as compared to lesson 1 in terms of mean scores, and specifically in terms of content relevance and depth, critical analysis and integrating supporting ideas. Furthermore, when asked to state the top 3 habits out of the 14 systems thinking habits that resonated with them at the end of lesson 3, the most frequently mentioned habits were: seeking to understand the bigger picture; considering short, long-term and unintended consequences of actions; and considering how mental models affect current reality and the future. It is noted that out of the 14 habits, 10 were mentioned. This might suggest that the systems thinking habits were helpful in adding value and meaning to the practice of logbook writing.